• To ensure seamless transfer of personal vehicles across states, the ministry of road transport & highways has come up with a new registration mark for new vehicles — Bharat Series (BH-series).

• The government has notified a new vehicle registration regime that will free vehicle owners from re-registration process when they shift from one state/Union Territory to another.

• The format of BH-series registration mark will be YY BH #### XX. 

• YY denotes the year of first registration, BH is code for Bharat Series, #### is the randomised four digit number and XX are two alphabets.

What is the need for new series?

• Currently, a person is allowed to keep a vehicle for a maximum of 12 months in any state other than the state where it is registered. The owners have to get such vehicles re-registered before the expiry of 12 months.         

• At present, a passenger vehicle owner for re-registration of vehicle has to take no objection certificate from the parent state for assignment of a new registration mark in another state.

• Also, the assignment of a new registration mark is done after the road tax on prorata basis is paid in the new state.

• This provision to get a refund from the parent state on a pro rata basis is a very cumbersome process and varies from one state to another.

Who will benefit from the new series?

• This vehicle registration facility under ‘Bharat series (BH-series)’ will be available on a voluntary basis to defence personnel, employees of central government/state government/ central/state public sector undertakings and private sector companies/organisations which have their offices in four or more states/UTs.

• This scheme will facilitate free movement of personal vehicles across states/UTs of India upon relocation.

Vehicle tax at the time of registration

According to the notification, the motor vehicle tax levied by states and UTs at the time of registration in respect to BH-series non-transport vehicle will be:

• 8 per cent, in case of vehicles costing up to Rs 10 lakh.

• 10 per cent in case of vehicles costing between Rs 10-20 lakh.

• 12 per cent in case of vehicles costing above 20 lakh.

• 2 per cent extra charge will be levied for diesel vehicles, while electric vehicles will be charged 2 per cent less tax.

• In case, where the vehicle bears BH-series registration mark, the motor vehicle tax shall be levied electronically.

• The new rules, also called Central Motor Vehicles (Twentieth Amendment) Rules, 2021, shall come into force with effect from September 15, 2021. 

• The registration mark for BH-series vehicles will be generated randomly through the portal.

• The motor vehicle tax will be levied for two years or in multiples of two.

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